02/02/2026
The countdown to the 54th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race® continues! ❄️🚨 The 2026 Musher Roll Call rolls on as we spotlight each musher—alphabetically by first name—on the journey toward race day and the trail to Nome. 🐾
🗣️ Next Up: Rookie Iditarod Musher, Joey Sabin
Originally from Grandville, Michigan, Joey has been an animal lover his entire life, but found his true calling in sled dogs in his early 20s. He began running dogs in 2017, working for Sven Haltman, and spent several summers guiding sled dog tours on glaciers with Alaska Icefield Expeditions and later in Seward with Dallas Seavey—experiences that helped shape his dog care, trail skills, and love for the sport.
In 2020, Joey founded his own kennel, VOA Racing, starting with just five dogs in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. That small beginning quickly grew into a serious racing program. Two years ago, Joey made the move back to Alaska to fully focus on competitive mushing, settling in Two Rivers, where he now runs VOA Racing alongside his partner Willoe Maynard 🐕❄️. Together, they train a team of 31 sled dogs, plus one very important Jack Russell terrier named Stevie Nicks.
Joey’s racing résumé already includes some of Alaska’s toughest mid-distance challenges, including the Copper Basin 300, Yukon Quest Alaska 300, and Yukon Quest Alaska 550. This season, he’s gearing up for a demanding lineup that includes the Copper Basin 300, Yukon Quest Alaska 750, and now his Iditarod debut.
Taking a break from college to chase a childhood dream turned into a full-fledged mushing career—and eight years later, Joey is right where he wants to be. When he’s not training dogs, he enjoys staying active through running and working out, always preparing himself to match the dedication and drive of his canine athletes 💪🐾
